Maine Historical Society

About

The Maine Historical Society is one of New England's oldest cultural institutions, founded in 1822 with a mission to preserve and share Maine's story. Located on a one-acre campus in the heart of downtown Portland across from Monument Square, it operates as a museum, research library, and genealogy center. The campus includes the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, built in 1785 and one of the oldest houses standing in Portland — home to three generations of the Wadsworth and Longfellow families, including poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The house is preserved as a period museum with original family furnishings. Through exhibitions, educational programming, and the Maine Memory Network — a statewide digital museum — the Maine Historical Society serves researchers, students, families, and lifelong learners across the state and beyond.

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